Livestock auction barn scenario

Type of operation
The operation is a large, family owned livestock auction facility. There are weekly cattle sales, which can include feeder calves, springing heifers, bred and or cull cows, and bulls. Weekly cattle sales average 1,500 to 2,000 animals. Weekly cattle sales are held on Mondays and Wednesdays. Special cattle sales, including feeder cattle, bred cows and ranch production sales, occur monthly and average 1,000 animals. During production sales the facility is rented by the seller, an outside auction service is contracted to conduct the auction, and only a small crew of auction barn employees who are familiar with running the auction are on duty.

Location
The facility (4692 Highway 90, Center Junction, MO 65789; 573-742‐0908) is located at the junction of Highways 90 and 56. Center Junction has a population of 350. Both highways are state maintained blacktop. The facility is 10 miles north of Center, which has a population of 10,000. It maintains an extensive website, multiple billboards on both highways and advertises in newspapers and livestock publications across the Midwest. Colonel and Sons is known well in Center, throughout Missouri and into the surrounding states. The nearest international airport is 75 miles away. There is a rail junction 10 miles away in Center and the nearest river terminal is 40 miles away.

Ownership
The facility is owned by Colonel Mike R. O’phone and his sons Telle and Celle. Mike lives on a 20 acre property at 9003 Highway 56, which adjoins the auction facility. The home phone number is 573-742‐9102. He keeps cattle, chickens and hogs on his property.

Perimeter
There is a 6 foot woven wire perimeter fence with gates on Highway 90 and Highway 56. The gates can be locked and are large enough to accommodate large trucks.

Facility
The facility includes a large auction arena, with seating for 300 people, and livestock pens that can accommodate up to 5,000 animals. One third of the pen space is covered and attached to the arena, One third is uncovered and outside the arena, and one third is larger dirt pens on one side of the building. There are catwalks over the inside and outside pen area and those pens have concrete flooring. The pens are equipped to provide animals with feed and water. The water electric, and waste removal service are supplied by the city of Center Junction (Center Junction Water and Light Co. 101 HWY 90, Center Junction, MO 65789) and piped throughout the pavilion. Natural gas is supplied by Ameren UE (203 Shockly Ave., Center Junction, MO 65789). Phone service is provided by Decadetel (356 Hereford Ave., Center Junction, MO 65789; 573-742‐6879). There are security cameras inside the pavilion, but the pens outside the pavilion are not monitored by security cameras. The entire facility has 24/7 security lighting. Employees are present from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; employees are available to receive and load cattle 24/7 as needed. A cleaning crew from Center Junction comes in after auctions to clean the public areas of the pavilion and the restrooms. Cleaning supplies are kept in a storage room near the office in the pavilion. The storage room is not locked. A restaurant owned by Colonel and Sons is also located inside the pavilion and has two entrances, one in the pavilion and one from the parking lot. The restaurant has a commercial kitchen with a receiving door for supplies and food. It can seat 75 patrons and the only restroom facilities are located in the hall adjoining the restaurant and sales arena. Gas for cooking is provided by Gasses R Us (345 Flatulence Way, Center Junction, MO 65789; 573-435‐5678).

The restaurant is open from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. weekdays and Saturday. Restaurant employees are present from 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily except Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Sunday.

Restrooms
Restrooms are located near the main office. The restaurant does not have separate restroom facilities. Restaurant patrons must enter the sales pavilion to use the restroom facilities.

Procedure
Animals arrive by truck or trailer; health papers and other paperwork pertaining to special sales are checked by employees in the main office before unloading. Animals without health papers will not be accepted for sale, by written agreement with all sellers. Animals are assigned to pens by lot number. Horses are used to move cattle when needed. Horses belonging to the auction barn are always on site and penned separately from cattle. Cattle are housed in the pens all days of the year. Once a lot is purchased, general health papers are transferred to the buyer. Veterinarians assist buyers with obtaining any permits required for possession/transportation of animals. Animals are loaded for removal from the premises. Some lots may be placed with a commercial hauler for transport. Buyers and transporters must sign an agreement accepting liability prior to removal from premises.

Number of employees
The facility has eight permanent and 12 part time employees (two of the permanent and four of the part time employees work in the restaurant). The two permanent restaurant employees are the manager Gertie Goodcook and the cook, Harry Hashslinger. The four part time employees are three waitresses and one dishwasher. The auction facility manager is Calvin Cattlepusher and the secretary (housed in the sales office) is Polly Pencilpusher. The remaining employees consist of auctioneers, livestock handlers and a small maintenance crew. Wally Wrench is the head of the maintenance crew and is a full time employee. None of the employees live at the facility. Six of the employees live in Center Junction, eight live within 10 miles and two live over 30 miles away. Ten of the employees keep some type of livestock at their residence. Management checks references, performs a criminal background check, and checks the INS status of potential employees during the screening process. They do not perform a credit check on perspective employees.

Feed
Small and large square hay bales are purchased by the truckload from various sources. One such source is Lou Cerne (47910 Old McDonald Rd. Center Junction MO 65789), who also sells cattle at the auction barn several times a year. The hay bales are stored in the hay shed on the property. The hay shed is open on both ends and thus does not lock. The hayshed is accessible to all employees and several of the facilities regular clients.

Waste management
Manure is removed from the pens after each auction, and composted using a system of large bunkers at the back of the facility. Once composted, the manure is given to area farmers to spread on their land.

Animal health
Dr. Bruce L. Osis (292 Rift Valley Rd. Center, MO 65789; 573-742‐1234) is a local veterinarian who is on site during sale days. Cattle consigned for auction from out of state must test negative for TB and Bangs, within 30 days of shipment, in addition to having general health papers. The on site veterinarian will arrange testing for any cattle that will be transported out of state after purchase.